The astrology of May begins with a strong kite formation. This includes an earthy Grand trine featuring the Moon hugging Mars in early Virgo, Pluto in Capricorn, and Sun in Taurus. Moon/Mars opposes the Neptune/Chiron grouping in Pisces, which in turn, sextiles the other planets in the trine. (We highlighted the kite formation in April at the Taurus New Moon, a cycle still operating, if you wish to check last month’s astrocycles). Starting May with the Moon in Virgo emphasizes our capacity to seek improvement in behavior, health, and work while gathering inspiration from Neptune in Pisces.

It’s an amazing chart for the magic of Beltane, the cross-quarter period halfway between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, associated with life, fertility, and abundance. All the powerful earth energy, plus watery Neptune as the trigger or release point, allowed the magic of the Faerie world to come alive, as in Celtic times, at the start of May, officially released from the bondage of winter to rule over life and love once again! We must take every opportunity in May to celebrate life, love, and also progress on our goals, because we may not always feel celebratory.

In the first week of May we have a phenomenon skywatchers are calling a “Supermoon.” It’s a perigee full moon, closer to the Earth than normal, so it looks enormous, and could exert as much as 42% more tidal force than usual. Read about it here. Because it will appear bigger and brighter than most moons, take time to moon gaze on Saturday night!

The actual Full Moon in Scorpio is at 8:35 PM PDT on May 5, and brings with it potential for deep emotional connections. Some feelings may be old, from another time, but emerge again for a new perspective. Allow for healing, for moving beyond old wounds. Pluto is sextile Chiron at this time, thus the potential for healing is pronounced.

Nevertheless, you may be inclined to chatter away your evening with Venus in Gemini and Mercury in Aries. If you want to score points with a loved one, however, try to keep the chatter to a minimum. There is an exact opposition between Saturn in Libra and Mercury in Aries, challenging us not to rely on old ideas and ways of expressing them. In addition, the opposition between Mars in Virgo and Neptune in Pisces tells me actions may speak louder, or at least more romantically, than words that evening.

In the second week of May, the energy of Taurus/Venus increases. Mercury moves from Aries to Taurus, and the Sun conjuncts Jupiter, emphasizing the energy of both. Venus trines Saturn, and we can feel more of the importance of Venusian issues active in our lives. This is a special month for Venus and all she’s associated with, i.e., relationships, resources, all we find of value, and of course the signs of Taurus and Libra!

Most important, on May 15, at 7:33 AM PDT, Venus stations retrograde. She begins a 6-week retrograde period, appearing to move backward in the sky, a process she does every 1½ years. When Venus is retrograde, we often have the opportunity to look closer at significant relationships and unresolved issues in them. Try to stay calm, and work through problems, so there are no regrets. It may be time to directly face the ways in which we de-value ourselves, or judge ourselves to be inadequate based on cultural and/or karmic conditioning, Make healing adjustments, knowing that self-care and a loving attitude toward ourselves is indeed best for our world. We may also need to make changes in the way we handle finances, or make a living. Think of it as a “software upgrade” for our resourcefulness.

Know also that during this Venus retro period, and during the entire month of May, the Uranus/Pluto waxing square is operating. It reflects both an inner and outer push to evaluate and change, evaluate and change. The pressure may be unrelenting, both within us personally and in the collective. Count on feelings and actions of resistance, and be careful not to judge yourself or others too harshly. This square will carry the feeling of a constant undercurrent of insecurity, gnawing at our very roots. Know that irritability, impatience, and insecurity are not abnormal, but consistent with the historical moment we are living through. It’s what we do with the feelings that must be creative and forward-looking.

The New Moon in Gemini at 4:47 PM PDT on May 20 occurs at 0 degrees. In addition, it marks the occasion of an annular solar eclipse! A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, totally or partially obscuring the image of the Sun from view from the Earth. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun, causing the Sun to look like an annulus, or ring, blocking most of the Sun’s light. We have not had an annular eclipse visible in the continental U.S. since May of 1994. This one will be observable in eastern Asia, and the northern Pacific, including the western U.S. It begins at 1:56 PM PDT in Asia, and ends in the western U.S and Canada at 7:49 PM PDT. Plan to view if you can, but not without appropriate eye protection!

The New Moon squares Neptune, so enjoying a great musical/artistic performance that weekend could put the icing on the cake. Just don’t get carried away with alcohol, video games, or other ways to escape what you know needs to be done. Chances are you’ll regret it down the road.

For the final week of the month, the Sun will square Neptune. Mercury will join in as it moves into Gemini, its own sign. Gemini and Pisces have very different qualities, yet willingness to adapt and change is one they both share. You can take this time to experience inspiration, write poetry in a different form, put an imaginative spin on a grant application, or photograph the strange plants growing in your back yard. Transforming ideas into artistic communicative form could be a great way to take your restless “lemons” and make lemonade!